BRIAN POV
 

I am awakened from an amazing dream involving me, Justin, and a hot tub by an annoying ringing in my ears.  As I become more alert, I realize it’s not in my ears, but rather the ringing of my cell phone.  With a groan I lean over to answer it.

 

“What?!”  I ask groggily.  It’s Rev. Tom.  Why the hell is he calling me?  Then, he finally comes out with it and I feel like my whole world collapses in on me.  He says my mother attacked Justin and now Justin’s in the hospital.  I jump out of bed, throw on some clothes, and am out the door in less than five minutes.  He also tells me Gus is with him and although he is emotionally a wreck, he is physically fine.  I tell Rev. Tom I’m on my way and race to the hospital, breaking every traffic law known to man.

 

When I arrive, I immediately see Rev. Tom sitting in the waiting room, holding a very distraught Gus.  Rev. Tom looks up at me with a sad smile and I sit down next to him.  When Gus looks up at me, he just cries even harder.  “Dad!  What’s gonna happen to Daddy?!  I don’t want Daddy to die!

 

He sounds so heartbroken.  Justin’s always been his favorite parent, ever since he was a newborn and Justin would just hold him.  That was when Gus was his most calm.  Once he had begun to speak, the four of us:  Mel, Lindz, Justin, and I had a talk and we decided that Justin had always been Gus’ father.  I was surprised how enthusiastic the girls had been about it.  I was worried.  I always believed Justin was Gus’ father, so I was happy I didn’t have to fight the girls for it, which I was prepared to do.  When Gus began to speak, he had decided in his little head that Mel was Mama, Lindsay was Mommy, I was Dad, or at the time, Dada, and Justin was Daddy.  Gus calls Lindsay Mom  most of the time now, but he still calls Justin Daddy.  I think he’ll always call him that.  Gus’ crying brings me back to reality.  

 

Luckily, the reverend calms Gus because I don’t think I have the energy or ability to do it right now.

 

Rev. Tom tells me everything that happened as he heard from Gus and I am beyond shocked.  I cannot believe Joan would do this to my husband.  I think about what the reverend says Justin said to Joan.  That man never ceases to amaze me.  I swear he would take on ten men literally twice his size if only to defend me.

 

I put my head in my hands and begin sobbing.  Rev. Tom gently rubs my back as my relentless tears refuse to decrease even the slightest bit in their intensity.

 

The reverend whispers something in Gus’ ear and Gus’ tears reduce to silent streaks down his face and he nods his head seemingly in agreement with whatever Rev. Tom said.

 

Tom places Gus in the other chair next to him and tells me to come with him.  I don’t respond at first, so he lifts me by my arms and guides me down the hall.

 

I think he is taking me to the hospital’s chapel and I am already prepared to protest, but then he turns us and leads me to another wing of the hospital.  We end up in a small room with a Christmas tree, a Hanukkah bush, and drawings that look to be the work of little kids.

 

Rev. Tom comes around and faces me.  Then he begins to speak.

 

“This is the pediatric cancer ward.  These drawings were done by the patients.  I am not going to get all religious on you, Brian.  I’m not.  The children come in here and go to either the Christmas tree, or the Hanukkah bush, or both, seeing as many of them are neither Christian nor Jewish, and they make a wish.  They wish with all their might that whatever they want will come true.  We like to encourage them to make these wishes, telling them it’s always a possibility that they will come true.  Over the years, I’ve asked the children what they wished for.  I tell them that if they tell me I won’t tell anyone else, so it can still come true.  Every one of them who wished to get better has walked out of this hospital cancer-free.  That’s why I’ve brought you here, Brian.  Not to pray, but to wish.  Maybe, just maybe, your wish will come true.”

 

After a minute of contemplation, I, rather than go to the Christmas tree or the Hanukkah bush, go to the back wall, which is covered in drawings by the children.  I think about all the times I’ve watched Justin draw and color with Gus.  No matter how juvenile the project, Justin always treated the finished products like masterpieces and always had so much fun with Gus as they created together.

 

I close my eyes and wish with all my might.  After a minute, I wipe the tears that had begun to cascade down my face and turn to Rev. Tom.  He takes me into a hug and I burst out into wrenching sobs.  I sink to my knees as he cradles my head against his chest, telling me that everything will be okay and Justin will make it.

 

After about ten minutes, I have composed myself and I tell Rev. Tom we should go back to the waiting room.

 

When we get there, I see everyone from the family there, including Cynthia, Daphne, Jen, Tucker, and Molly.  I also see Justin’s cell phone in Gus’ hand.  Ah, that explains it.  I give everyone a small smile and return to my original seat.

 

After another two hours of waiting, a very exhausted surgeon emerges.

 

“Are you all here for Justin Kinney-Taylor?”  he asks.

 

When we all nod, he asks who is Mr. Kinney-Taylor’s spouse.  I stand up and walk to the surgeon.  “I am,” I say.

 

“And what is your name, sir?”  the man asks me.

 

“Brian Kinney-Taylor,” I respond.

 

The surgeon gives a slight nod and tells me that Justin made it through surgery.  He also says that the blow to the head as well as the subsequent blood loss did not cause any serious problems.  He also says that the bullet miraculously missed the heart by half and inch and the lungs by a quarter of an inch.  He says that they have to keep Justin for about a week to monitor him, but that he’ll be okay.

 

HE’LL BE OKAY!  I am so relieved I feel like I’m going to faint, so I just collapse back into the nearest chair.

 

Everyone heard the news and they are either crying, screaming, or both, with joy.  The surgeon says in about five minutes a nurse will come out and tell us we can go in and see him.